André Kertész

André Kertész (1894–1985) was one of the 20th century’s leading photographers, known for his innovative compositions, pioneering contributions to the photo essay and keen eye for capturing the poetry of modern urban life. Through his lens, Kertész wanted ‘to give meaning to everything, to make photographs as by reflection in a mirror, unmanipulated and direct as in life.’

Born Kertész Andor in Budapest, in 1894, Kertész became enamoured with photography through the captivating images he saw in illustrated magazines. In 1912 he got his first camera and began taking pictures of local peasants and surroundings in the Hungarian Plains. His early interest in chronicling everyday life and the people within it would persist throughout his career.

Kertész moved to Paris in 1925, where he became a prominent photojournalist as an early proponent of the compact 35 mm format camera. Kertész was an active member of the vibrant Parisian artistic community of the time, befriending artists such as Piet Mondrian, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder and Constantin Brâncuşi, who had also become his photographic subjects. During this period, he produced some of his most iconic images, including Satiric Dancer (1926) which sold at Christie’s New York in 2024 for US$567,000, establishing a world auction record for the artist.

Kertész’s fascination with visual distortion led his to creating his famous ‘Distortions’ series of nudes in 1933. He used warped, funhouse mirrors to create surreal, elongated human forms. This experimentation was groundbreaking and set him apart as an innovator in photography.

In 1936, Kertész moved to the United States, eventually settling in New York. Drawing inspiration from his new surroundings and reflecting on his personal history, having lived through two wars, his work during this period the fleeting moments of life in the city, while subtly feeding his enduring curiosity about the human condition.

André Kertész received the title of Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour in 1983, just a year before his death at the age of 91. Today Kertész is regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century photography, his work influencing generations of photographers that follow.